Actor Swara Bhasker has come forward to clarify her controversial tweet in which she criticized society for being more outraged by a fictional torture scene involving Hindus than by the tragic fatalities from two recent stampedes. Although she referenced the Vicky Kaushal film Chhaava and the stampedes that occurred during the Maha Kumbh and at the New Delhi Railway station, she refrained from explicit details.
In her latest post on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, Swara expressed her belief that society should not use “the glory of the past” to overshadow the mistakes and failures of present times. She emphasized her respect for the “brave legacy and contribution” of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Swara stated, “My tweet has generated much debate and avoidable misunderstanding. Without any doubt, I respect the brave legacy and contribution of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, particularly his ideals of social justice and respect for women.”
She continued, stressing the importance of historical context in contemporary discussions: “My limited point is that glorifying our history is commendable, but please don’t misuse the glory of the past to obscure present issues. Historical understanding should aim to unite us, not divide or distract from ongoing challenges.”
Swara further acknowledged any discomfort her earlier remarks may have caused, stating, “If my earlier tweet has hurt any sentiments, I regret that. Like any proud Indian, I’m also proud of our history. Our past should unite and empower us as we strive for a better and more inclusive future.”
Earlier in the week, Swara had voiced strong sentiments regarding societal priorities, saying, “A society that is more enraged at the heavily embellished partly fictionalized portrayal of Hindu torture from 500 years ago than at the horrendous deaths caused by stampedes and mismanagement—plus the alleged mishandling of corpses—is a brain and soul-dead society. #IYKYK.” These comments came in light of recent stampede tragedies, including one in Prayagraj that claimed at least 30 lives and another at the New Delhi Railway station that resulted in 18 deaths.
Chhaava, directed by Laxmikant Utekar and featuring Rashmika Mandanna, has performed well at the box office, surpassing ₹200 crore. The film showcases Vicky Kaushal as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, the son of the Maratha empire’s founder, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.